- Location
- Wherever I feel like being
- Pronouns
- He/Him
They're an out-of-context problem. He literally has no context for them, and as such will not think them a threat, at best some kind of homunculi.
Scaling Up
- Thread starter Kryslin
- Start date
Sandy River DL
(Verified Destroyer Leader)
- Location
- Lake Michigan
- Pronouns
- Her/She
He doesn't have a reference point for the Mental Models, he would for their shipselves. And finding out they can hit him from basically anywhere, with weapons able to destroy entire cities with a single shot...
- Location
- Scotland
Surely at SOME point someone is going to at least TRY to explain to Ashram just how out-numbered, out-gunned and flat out out-classed his entire army is to the point that he'd be insanely lucky to even get a single soldier within a mile of the city limts. At which point surely even someone like him will realise that pursuing this course of action is extraordinarily foolish and will serve literally no other purpose than to get his entire army dead for absolutely zero gain.
- Location
- The Old Dominion
Hmm, Ashram is ruthless but professional and seems to inspire loyalty in his subordinates and of course he has an extremely close relationship to the dark elf Pirotess which is mutual.
He also deeply cares about his people for whom he sought safe haven though and might well have been to get him on board for this whole action which might also provide a way out of the conflict given obviously the main villain if he is behind this has pretty much the same goals as the evil dead goddess of destruction from the world Ashram is from.
Kinsfire
Verified {Redacted}
- Location
- New Jersey
And one of the other things that people always forget when they bitch about the Post Office is that it is LEGALLY FORBIDDEN to make a profit! (It's why the SJ Games Illuminati! has them with a budget of -1. During one of those rare times that it looked like they might make money for a year (a few decades back), they had to come up with things to spend it on, since they legally couldn't have a profit at the end of the year. It's why the occasional explosion of "Let's add THIS to the Post Office!" happens...
- Location
- The Old Dominion
The US Post Office is sort weird anyway given it predates the current constitutional order being established in 1775 by the Continental congress and has been everything from a cabinet level government department to its current status as an independent agency of the government.
- Location
- Wherever I feel like being
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Yeah, it was confirmed that they're looking for Falzore's phylactery.
FaerieKnight79
Verified Pixie
- Location
- The Internet
Which is nowhere on Earth Bet.
- Location
- Wherever I feel like being
- Pronouns
- He/Him
And they have someone that knows exactly what it is, and can confirm that it's not in the city because that thing would put out a hell of a lot of death mojo.
Ah, as to artillery outranging magic, that depends on a couple of things.
A. Is the Wizard an epic level caster? Using the epic level handbook, it is easy to make a spell that has a range of ten miles per level of caster. That means a range of at least 210 miles.(casting spells through or with the aid of scrying is a classic for a reason.)
B. What dimension they learned their spells in. Monte Cook's Swords and Sorcery set has tenth level spells, before you go epic and one of them is called invoked apocalypse. Range: one mile per caster level. Duration: one round per caster level. Damage: 1d8 of each elemental damage, plus 1d8 bludgeoning damage per level of caster, in a circle one hundred feet across per level of caster.
Minimum caster level for this spell is 19th. So, 19 mile range, dealing 114d8 of damage for 19 rounds in a circle 1900 feet across. There are very few things that can survive that. (The spell does have two downsides. First, when you finish casting the spell you fall unconscious for 1d4 days, and cannot be woken by any means. Second, if you try to cast the spell again within a year and a day, you die, period. Game over, draw up a new character.)
C. Scry and die. Depending on the scrying spell used, a good wizard doesn't even have to be in the same dimension you're in. I don't know any artillery that go shoot across dimensions in Worm.
A. Is the Wizard an epic level caster? Using the epic level handbook, it is easy to make a spell that has a range of ten miles per level of caster. That means a range of at least 210 miles.(casting spells through or with the aid of scrying is a classic for a reason.)
B. What dimension they learned their spells in. Monte Cook's Swords and Sorcery set has tenth level spells, before you go epic and one of them is called invoked apocalypse. Range: one mile per caster level. Duration: one round per caster level. Damage: 1d8 of each elemental damage, plus 1d8 bludgeoning damage per level of caster, in a circle one hundred feet across per level of caster.
Minimum caster level for this spell is 19th. So, 19 mile range, dealing 114d8 of damage for 19 rounds in a circle 1900 feet across. There are very few things that can survive that. (The spell does have two downsides. First, when you finish casting the spell you fall unconscious for 1d4 days, and cannot be woken by any means. Second, if you try to cast the spell again within a year and a day, you die, period. Game over, draw up a new character.)
C. Scry and die. Depending on the scrying spell used, a good wizard doesn't even have to be in the same dimension you're in. I don't know any artillery that go shoot across dimensions in Worm.
- Location
- Here
Just remember, ICBMs can be considered atomic artillery with a global range; if needed, any point on the planet can be hit with the push of a button.
As to Scry and Die, there are multiple Gods present and with a vested interested in Brockton Bay's safety. Those trying to scry may well be the ones to die.
As to Scry and Die, there are multiple Gods present and with a vested interested in Brockton Bay's safety. Those trying to scry may well be the ones to die.
FaerieKnight79
Verified Pixie
- Location
- The Internet
Scry & Die may be a longtime standby tactic of high level wizards, but there are also ways to prevent scrying. Taylor has one such method. It also takes preparation and knowing what/who you are trying to scry. Imagine if someone in the army tried scrying "local dragon's location", and every single time they got a different location, without seeing any dragons each time (due to said dragons being in human form)? Now imagine if one of those scryings happened to catch Tia or her sister in the shower... *shudders*
M. H. Fuzzball
Aperture Science-certified Horrible Person
- Location
- Sector 2814
That sounds like 'Scry & Die' to me, because they'd kill you.
- Location
- Somewhere
More like setting up a civil war that will end when the CUI is forced out of power, probably with its entire leadership (and their families) very dead. Considering that he has Lung that he is going over there to inform them that their Madate of Heaven has been effectively revoked.
Chinese politics get very, very, very violent and bloody the moment the ruling government is seen as incapable of running things.
That very independence also means that the USPS has absolute authority over the mail. It takes some very specifically worded and explicit court orders to for a warrant to allow the search of someone's mail.
It easier to get an authorization to do a wiretap on someone's phone by an order of magnitude than it is to get permission to start rummaging through someone's mail to gather evidence. The mail is one area where your Fourth Amendment Rights are ironclad and it requires a lot more than simple probable cause to obtain a warrant to go through someone's mail.
And if law enforcement does get that permission, they cannot take the mail with them, they can't even touch the mail themselves, that is the officers of the Postal Service's own law enforcement branch who will do so. And every step of it will be logged, recorded, and have a chain of custody which would make someone who has had to handle the transfer of classified materials wince in sympathy.
FaerieKnight79
Verified Pixie
- Location
- The Internet
I think you mean "somone sane who has had to handle the transfer of classified materials wince in sympathy." Just saying.
EDIT:
Also, Lung is not going with Monkey King to China to deal with the CUI. Lung finished his Enlightenment quest, and has returned home to his family as an actual dragon.
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Bottom 01
New
Kryslin
[Has Delusions of Authorship]
- Location
- Mythic Iowa
Bottom
"I don't want to do it," Samira said.
"And I don't want to be asking, but the city is about to come under attack," Deputy Director Gallowglass said, "and we need more intelligence on the enemy."
"You've got no idea what you're asking," Samira shot back. "I lose everything I love when I take my Endbringer form. Yes, I have unmatched precognitive abilities like that, but I lose the present; I only have the past and future. I can't see or hear, but I know what happens. To everyone... no, everything. I have over six billion voices in my head, along with countless other creatures. I know what they've done, everything they'll do, and how they end.
"And the temptation to meddle is strong.
"Please don't push any harder," Samira begged. "If I become her again, I don't know if I can come back. When I did it to take care of the Fallen, I almost didn't come back."
"I think, Mr. Gallowglass," Hailey interrupted, "that you're done here for the moment." The tone of her voice was stern and unhappy. She had every right to intervene, as they were meeting in her Brockton Bay residence. "The boys are easier, their powers aren't so overwhelming they lose themselves in the changes. Samira's is different and harder to keep separate from herself. I hate to do this to the girl, but have you asked Weaver?"
"Her parents allowed me four questions," the Deputy Director admitted. "We have a pretty good chance of the city surviving, but there's also a very high chance of a lot of casualties, and the enemy not being successful. As in possibly trying again."
"I can tell you one thing," Samira whispered. "There's going to be more than one group attacking. The army from the North, and another from beyond the sky. Ask Tiamat."
"Of course my sister knows something about this," Hailey growled. She pulled out her phone and dialed a number. When the person she called – probably Tiamat – answered, there were a few very harsh sounding words growled out, and then she hung up.
Tiamat, in her human guise, stepped out of seemingly nowhere and into the room. "What do you want to know?"
"Samira said something about asking you about a party seeking to attack the city from 'beyond the sky'," the Deputy Director asked.
"I was approached by a party of Githyanki seeking young red dragons for a raid on Brockton Bay," Tiamat explained. "It seems that someone has planted the idea that there's riches for the taking here in the city. They'll attack from the Astral plane, which means they'll appear to come down from the sky."
"Please tell me you're not going to get directly involved," Geoff Gallowglass asked. "I've seen far too many monster movies to know what happens when the friendly monster gets down to business in a built up area."
"Hlal has shown me some of those," Tiamat answered. "For the most part, they're spot on. I, in turn, showed them to an old acquaintance of mine. He found them quite amusing," she finished with a slight smile on her face.
"But no, my brother and I will not get directly involved," she continued. "And no, none of my minions will either. Support you in the defence of the city, yes. Fight for you, no. You should know I've instructed Mr. Tucker to aid your special operations group, and Emily is currently finding out what some of the more mechanically inclined have been up to…"
= = = = = = = = = =
"What is this?" Emily Piggot remarked as she looked over the contents of the warehouse.
"I believe, Ma'am," Tucker answered, "you'd call these technicals."
"I can see that, Mr. Tucker," Emily growled. "Where? How? Why? And where'd that Ontos come from?"
"As to where," Tucker began explaining, "we found the weapons on them still in crates in an old warehouse in the Union yard. With a little assistance from someone you put me in contact with, we were able to creatively requisition the ammunition needed. Give Ed my thanks, by the way.
"As to how, we've had some help," he continued. "She's left town, but she should be back this fall."
"The Tinker formerly known as Squealer, I presume?"
"You're correct there," Tucker answered. "However, no Tinkertech on these. She taught some of us welding and fabricating, trained us in skills mechanics need to know, and a couple of the electricians at the Union taught a number of us about electricity and electronics."
"And the Ontos?" Emily reminded the kobold.
"We creatively requisitioned that from the guys at Fort Devens," Tucker admitted. "They were more interested in some of the things the Empire had in its armories than an obsolete tank."
"Dare I ask?"
"A pair of M61 Vulcans, M134 Miniguns, and a half-dozen XM214 microguns," Tucker explained. "And a mountain of ammo. Along with a pair of BMP-2M IFV's. Painted in Soviet urban camouflage. Again, with a pile of ammo and parts. We included the documentation we found; they liked getting that even more than the weapons."
"If any of that had made it onto the streets…" Emily said, her voice trailing off.
"It didn't," Tucker stated. "From what we could gather, Anders kept that stuff under lock and key, with only his most trusted minions having access. Don't know what he planned to use it on. We managed to get most of the stuff hauled out in short order, and had some help from now very former gangers who didn't want to be shot. Not by us; they didn't say who, though. A mutually beneficial arrangement."
"Suddenly, I'm very glad I'm not fighting against you," Emily said after a pause.
Tucker grinned and looked up at her. "You're not the first person to say that," he said. "Think we got time for lunch?"
"Yeah," Emily said as they began walking out of the old warehouse that had been made into a combination tank depot and armory for some of the smallest tanks she'd seen.
= = = = = = = = = =
"Hey guys," Carlos said as he joined the table for lunch.
"Hey yourself," Vicky said. "So, now that we're all here, does anyone know what is going on? The Mayor's declared a curfew, and there are a lot of Army vehicles on the streets."
"My dad was complaining about I-95 and US-1 being closed at the river here," Chris added. "And it's the Army that's closed it."
"Dad's had drivers coming down from Portland complaining about the detour through Sanford," Taylor commented. "Roads south from Kennebunkport are closed, so everything's being shifted inland." She paused to take a drink from her milk carton. "Truckers are pissed, and the rail lines through there are closed, too. Fortunately, we seem to have a working harbor again, so they're loading small container ships and escorting them down to Brockton Bay."
"Thank god for those shipgirls," Dennis added. "Their salvage work means my dad's job is doing great, and he's not likely to be laid off. And thanks again, Amy."
"Eh, no biggie," she said from where she was enjoying her four meat pizza slices. "Glad to hear he's doing fine and things are looking up."
"So how are things at home?" Missy asked.
"Fountain is a force for good," Vicky cut in, "but man does chaos trail in her wake. She's finally doing well enough we're going to enroll her at Pokey Oaks Elementary."
"Carol's been sitting around with a confused look on her face a lot," Amy added. "Still, she does show her some affection as a granddaughter."
"Just not from the daughter she was expecting one from," Vicky stated.
"Don't you remember your dad gave me a shovel speech when we first started dating?" Dean queried. "Somehow, despite the depression, he roused himself enough to give me the politest and scariest version of one I've ever heard."
Natalie walked up to the table. "Can I join you guys?" she asked, her tray loaded down with food.
Missy scooted over a bit, making some room. "Sure. Haven't seen you for a while"
"Different class schedules will do that," Natalie commented. "Taylor, can I ask you a favor?"
"Depends on what it is," Taylor replied. "If it's not too bad, I should be able to."
"I'd normally do this over the phone, but I need to relocate my collection somewhere safe," Natalie said in a low voice. "There've been strangers poking around on the east bank of the river at night, though they haven't tried to cross. Yet."
"Relocate it where?" Taylor asked. "My basement isn't too big."
"Your place," Natalie answered. "It's the safest place I can think of. And if you have her gifts around, it should go quickly."
Taylor frowned for a moment, considering her options. "I think I might be able to help out," she finally said. "I should at least be able to make sure your stuff is kept safe and out of sight for a while. Letting you still get at things would be more complicated."
"That's good enough."
"How's life with Jewel?" Missy queried. "Based on the last couple of times I've seen her out and about, she's kind of free spirited and clumsy."
"She drives Mom spare," Natalie said with a chuckle. "She's learning quickly, though, and socialization helps." There was a pause as she ate something from her tray. "She'll probably be starting here in a month as a freshman."
"I think the teachers won't have a problem," Chris stated. "If they can handle Lovegood's shenanigans, they should be able to handle Jewel."
"I'd hope so," Taylor added. "Luna's only fey in behavior. Jewel is fey."
= = = = = = = = = =
"So, it's looking to be war, is it?" Inari asked as he served tea to his guests at the shrine. Seated across from him was his uncle, Susanoo, his aunt Amaterasu, and Sun Wukong, who was taking a break from creating trouble in China.
"Yes, though not the kind of war any side is expecting," Susanoo rumbled. "One side sees an unarmored militia. Another sees something from The Lord of the Rings movies. The third just sees a city ripe for plunder. None see all they face, and they will suffer from that ignorance."
"I see a need for justice for crimes committed from before I was born," Amaterasu said calmly. "I see a need for light, because darkness is about to descend upon the land."
Sun Wukong, wearing some of the latest tourist stuff from Hong Kong, gave her a cheeky grin. "We're not going to have to come up with a scheme to lure you out of a cave again, are we?" he asked, sipping his tea. "Could use some peach juice," he commented.
Inari sighed. "What is it with you and peaches?"
The Monkey King gave him a smirk. "Blame Wu Cheng'en. He's the one who wrote the story down. I just like 'em for their taste." He sipped his tea some more. "So, are we gonna do something about this?"
"As much as I'd like to," Susanoo muttered, "no. The mortals here have enough force of arms and magic to deal with this problem."
"It is the problem to come that we may have to intervene in," Amaterasu said. "One of the primal dragons stirs in his schemes to destroy everything. To that end, Sun Wukong, your mischief has been instrumental in throwing various schemes of his off the rails, though you knew it not."
Wukong gave the Sun Goddess a cheeky grin. "Well, let me know where I can cause more havoc, I mean targeted mischief," he said, correcting himself at the last bit. "I rather like the world, after all."
= = = = = = = = = =
Taylor looked over the now boxed collection in Naichi's lair. Each item had been carefully packed and labeled, and stacked neatly for transport, her portable hole spread out next to them. "OK, I think I have room for this," she said. "Shouldn't take too long to get things into the portable hole and over to the lair."
"I think we'd better hurry," Naichi said as she began lifting boxes into the portable hole. "I can hear them crossing the river."
"Yeah, sounds like too many to avoid a mess."
Taylor used her Power a bit, making the piles float and be easily pushed over and into the hole, then descending safely. "Is that everything you want?"
"That's it," Naichi said as she shifted back to human and began helping Taylor fold up the portable hole.
As soon as they were finished, something started banging on the man door on the front of the old hangar. Fortunately the door had been welded shut, and then bricks and cinder block built up behind it.
"Let's get moving, then," Taylor said. "You get a Message off to your mother, and I'll shift us."
"Message is away," Naichi said after casting the spell.
"𝕷𝖆𝖎𝖗!"
The last thing both of them heard was someone swearing loudly in Russian as they shifted to Taylor's lair in the Outlands.
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FaerieKnight79
Verified Pixie
- Location
- The Internet
Probably someone from one of the various forces currently arrayed against Brockton Bay.
Sakuya's Butler
A refined Butler to a knife wielding Mistress.
- Location
- ↓, ↘, → + Punch
Never raid a dragon's lair unless you have Abridged Alucard levels of health insurance.
You'll need it.
So will your mother.
- Location
- The Old Dominion
It depends on who's doing the raiding.
Various versions of Gorion's wards from Rangers and Paladins to Sorcerers and CVlerics got rather good at killing dragons in their own lairs but to be Firkraag, Thaxll'ssillyia, Abazigal and his son Draconis did have it coming... Abazigal apparently was really unimaginative when it came naming his offspring.
Though I suppose smart evil dragons don't attract epic heroes to come knocking at their doorsteps and especially don't go out of their way to antagonize them.
Various versions of Gorion's wards from Rangers and Paladins to Sorcerers and CVlerics got rather good at killing dragons in their own lairs but to be Firkraag, Thaxll'ssillyia, Abazigal and his son Draconis did have it coming... Abazigal apparently was really unimaginative when it came naming his offspring.
Though I suppose smart evil dragons don't attract epic heroes to come knocking at their doorsteps and especially don't go out of their way to antagonize them.
Kryslin
[Has Delusions of Authorship]
- Location
- Mythic Iowa
As this point came up in editing, I'll bring it up here:
The swearing in Russian isn't coming from the people attempting to break in through a welded and bricked door.
(If anything, if it was them, it'd be in 'Common', whatever that is...)
It's Kira / Kurya, Natalie / Naichi's mother. Also Bahamut's Champion.
This is touched on Soon Enough (like, the next chapter).
The swearing in Russian isn't coming from the people attempting to break in through a welded and bricked door.
(If anything, if it was them, it'd be in 'Common', whatever that is...)
It's Kira / Kurya, Natalie / Naichi's mother. Also Bahamut's Champion.
This is touched on Soon Enough (like, the next chapter).
Saurial
(verified troll) (verified BBFO LLC founder)
- Location
- Anywhere I want
(out of character) i see what you did there. is that a reference to a taste of peachs?
Kryslin
[Has Delusions of Authorship]
- Location
- Mythic Iowa
Goes back much farther back than that. This Sun Wukong is more based on the Journey to the West Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, Great Sage Equal to Heaven and Victorious Fighting Buddha. In one part of the story, he eats all the Peaches of Immortality in Heaven, along with all the pills of immortality. And in general, creates enough trouble that Buddha himself has to imprison him under a mountain.
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